Michael Schumacher admits KERS error during qualifying

Michael Schumacher has admitted that a minor mistake with the KERS device prevented the him from improving during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which saw the Mercedes driver qualify a lowly 14th on the grid. After Q2 came to an end, Schumacher was heard apologizing to his race engineer over the team radio.

After progressing through from Q1 at the beginning of qualifying, Michael Schumacher and Mercedes elected to change their approach for Q2. However, this tactic failed to work for the German marque, as Nico Rosberg was able to progress through to the top ten shootout whereas Michael Schumacher made a small error with the KERS device, and subsequently floundered down in an uncompetitive 14th position.

“My qualifying did not exactly go according to plan today.” Admitted Michael Schumacher, “We changed our approach a little for the last run in Q2, and then I did not properly make use of it in the first sector and particular in turn one. So we are not quite where we would want to have qualified but I will certainly try to make the best out of my starting position tomorrow.”

Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn believes Michael Schumacher made a minor mistake during his final run in Q2, and that there was no issue on the car. He is of the belief that the seven-time World Champion got his braking wrong, which therefore affected what is known as the KERS harvesting.

"I think he got the engine braking wrong, what we call KERS harvesting - the way you collect the KERS and the way you use the KERS," explained Ross Brawn. “It does affect the balance of the car, and he got a little bit out of sequence with it, and then he got caught out and lost some time in the first complex."

This is the second race weekend in succession where Michael Schumacher has failed to enter the top ten shootout during the all-important qualifying session, after the German also qualified 14th for the Indian Grand Prix last weekend. Back then Schumacher failed to finish with a gearbox issue, however the seven-time World Champion will be looking to score his first points since the Italian Grand Prix during tomorrow’s race.

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